Bubble tower



Sept. 28, 1954 S. M. JORGENSEN BUBBLE T OWER Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 25, 1950 Sept 28, 1954 S. M. JoRGr-:NSEN 2,690,332

BUBBLE TOWER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25,' 1950 Gttomeg Sept. 28, 1954 s. M. JORGENSEN BUBBLE TOWER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 25, 1950 2/a. 2l Snnentor Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STATES anni er oFFlCE BUBBLE 'EWER Application May 25, 1956, Serial No. 164,l.42

(Cl. 26h-114) 13 Claims.

This invention relates to bubble towers and more particularly to tray constructions for bubble towers of the kind in which liquids and vapors are caused to counteriiow to obtain intimate contact therebetween.

The bubble tower and tray construction while useful in many fields requiring such apparatus is particularly useful in the oil industry for providing intimate contact between vapors and liquids to procure fractionation and heat exchange between the vapor and the liquid.

Features and objects of the invention are to provide novel bubble tray constructions of sectionalized elements or units that are light, individually capable, for example, of being carried or handled by one man, that are readily assembled or can be put together quickly or removed individually for cleaning, repair or replacement, that for assembly utilize a minimum of small pieces such as nuts, bolts or clips or other fastening devices thereby minimizing labor of assembly or disassembly and which are dimensioned so that individual sections apart from light weight can be removed or replaced through relatively small openings in the tower, for example, manways sixteen inches in diameter.

Further objects and novel features will become apparent from the following description and the drawings forming a part hereof wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of a bubble tower equipped with trays of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale of a single half of one of the tray troughs and its cap as well as the manner of supporting the troughs;

Fig. 3 is a transverse horizontal section of a bubble tower Viewed from above the level of a horizontal row of trays;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is an exploded fragmentary perspective View illustrating assembly details of the tray and cap construction;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of one of the tray sections in the initial stage of its preparation;

Fig. 6a is a fragmentary perspective View of one of the tray sections in an intermediate state of its preparation;

Fig. 7 is a similar fragmentary perspective of the tray element of Fig. 6 in its completed form;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating details of the cap supporting elements;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken along line 9 9 of Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 1) is a vertical section taken substantially along line lll- ID of Fig. 2 and illustrating details of the cap stiifener construction.

Referring to the drawings, I0 denotes a bubble tower. A plurality of segmented metal plates II are welded, bolted or xed in other ways to the interior of the tower I0, these plates II being arranged in staggered relation and being positioned on opposite sides of the tower I0 at different levels. The segmented plates II each extend for only a short distance into the tower ill and are supported at their inner edges on flanges Iza of transversely extending angle bars or beams I2 to which the said edges are secured as by welding at I3. At substantially the level of each of the segmented plates II and extendr ing in parallelism with and spaced apart from the bars or beams I2, a plurality or intermediate similar angle bars or beams I4 and I5 are provided. 'Ihe bars or beams i2, I4 and i5 are all supported at their opposite ends by suitable hangers I6 which are supported from the inner wall of the tower i0. The bars or beams are either welded to the hangers or else wedges (not shown) may be used to clamp the bars or beams to the hangers in well known manner.

The beams I2, I4 and I5 at each level act as supports for the trays 20 (Fig. 5) which are made up of sectional elements or units each constructed as is hereinafter described. In the embodiment shown and particularly as seen in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the tray 20 at each level in the bubble tower is constructed of individual sections 2i and and assembled together to form the tray. Each tray section 2| is formed from a single substantially rectangular sheet of metal, for example,

, stainless steel alloy. In forming each sheet into a tray section 2 I, the sheet at its opposite transverse ends is cut away to provide the rectangular recesses 2m. Ninety degree cuts 2lb, 2Ic are then made at each inner corner of the recess 2 Ia. The opposite longitudinal edge portions of equal width of the sheet are bent upwardly along the fold lines 22a and 23o!l to define vertical side walls 22, 23 of equal height. At opposite ends of each sheet each of the walls 22 and 23 is bent laterally at fold lines 24a and 25ct to dene portions 24 and 25 and at right angles to portions 2d and 25 along fold lines 26a, 27a to define portions 26 and 21 offset from walls 22 and 23 but parallel therewith. The width of the respectlve portions 26 and 2l is substantially equal to the projecting end portion 2Ia of the sheet. The lengths of the portions 26 and 21, however, are greater than the height of the respective walls 22 and 23 by an amount defining lower iiap portions 26h and 2lb and the lengths of the said flap portions or tabs 2Gb, 2lb are equal respectively to the widths of the wall portions 24 and 25. The tab portions 26h, 2lb are folded substantially at right angles to the wall portions 26, 2 to lie alined with end portion 2Ia of the sheet and so that their outermost free ends respectively abut the opposite free side edges Yof the portion 2Ia to which they are permanently secured by welds at 26e, 2'Ic. The .flaps 23h, 2lb are also welded at 26d, 21d tothe lower edges of wall portions 24, 25. Each tray section when constructed as just described has substantially the appearance of an I when seen in plan. (See Fig. 3.) In the alternative each tray when constructed as described canlbe said to have a longitudinal channel with :a T-head enlargement at each end. Vlin @other words, each tray :section 2i is formed from a unitary sheet folded #to 4provide a bottom and .side walls '.22, `23., .the `side walls having laterally offset portions l24, 2.6 and 2:5, 21 also provided by .folding and whereinabuttng freeedges 216.c.,126.d and 21e, :2?Idioi foldedportions are permanentlysecured `together as by welding.

When aplu-ra-lity .of these troughs or tray sections 2I are positioned side by side :to span each group of ,support .bars or `beams 1I'2, I4 and :I5, at each level it `will be apparent fas seen in Fig. 5 that the laterally oiset side walls 2.6 fand i2I of 4an adjacent pair -of .the :tray sections abut each .other vand the adjacent .pair ofthe walls 22,123 :of adjacent pairs ofthe tray sections 2i Yare `spaced apart from eachother respectively a width equal to .the sum of the widths of a vvall portion 24 and a wall portion 25 .dening between them .a vapor or gas riser space '2B which is completely open along both its bottom and top, 'while each of :the tray sections :23| .itself has :a lcompletely closed bottom including the main body of the sheet of which .each 'tray section :is :formed land the .bent underap portions i261: .and 2lb. .The traysections 2I .at each level are adapted to be held down removably .on .their .supporting beams 12, :I4 and I5 Ain any conventional manner, Vfor example, by appropriate wedges, `(not shown) or in other ways.

A cap 3 is provided to -overlie each rof the spaces '28. Each .cap 30 .is substantially :of inverted U-shaped cross section being preferably closed at its outer ends and having substantially greater length than the length .of .the respective tray sections 2|. The 'lowermost side vedges 3i of the caps 30 are serrated vfor kpurposes presently to be described, Cap stiiener plates '32 extending transversely between side walls :of .the cap 3.0 at spaced apart .points vare provided for each cap. These stiieners are appropriately Iixed to walls of the cap 30, for example, by providing peen projections '33 along side edges ofthe stiftener plates 32 which are projected through appropriate openings 34 in the top and side walls of cap 30 and which are peened over to lock them in place. Each of the stifener plates 32 is vprovided with a pair of spaced .apart vertically veX- tending slots 35 whose center to `center distance 'is that of the distance between the adjoining walls v22, v23 dening the space 28 so that `when the .cap is fitted over the space :218 the walls 22, 2'3 dening it fit in the respective vspaced apart slots 35. The Vheight of the slots '35 is less than .the Walls 22 and 23 over which .they t so that the top Wall of cap 30 is retained in an elevated position relative to the upper edges of the walls 22 and 23. In addition the stiffener plates 32 by reason of their slotted engagement with the adjoining walls 22 and 23 act also as stiieners for these walls. Adjacent the opposite ends of caps 30, stiifener plates 36 are provided. These plates are fastened to the walls of the cap 30 in the .same way as plates 32, but differ from the latter in having only a single vertical slot `3.7 instead of a pair of slots 35. This single slot .37 is slightly wider than the thickness of the pair of abutting walls 25 and 2l of adjacent tray sections. vIf a gasket (not shown) is interposed between the abutting walls 26, 21 and slot El of plate 33 forced over these walls, the plate 36 acts to press the two abutting walls 26, 21 against the interposed gasket and acts then to seal the end joints of gas space 28 made by these walls 26, 21 as well as to hold the adjoining sections 2l iirmly together. Caps .3G and tray sections 2I are tied together in a .composite unit in .their .describedassembled relationship by tieing means. As `shown more particularly in Figs. 3, 4, 9 and l0, adjacent tray sections 2I are maintained in -their assembled relationship and the caps 33 are held in position by a plurality of bolts 53 and angle clips 54 which bolts and clips are located adjacent stiffener plates 32. Clips 54 are of sufcient length to bridge spaces 23 .and are disposed With one leg thereof in Contact with the .under surface of adjacent trays. Bolts 53 extend through the clips 54, the heads of the bolts engaging said one leg of the clips. Bolts 53 also extend through spaces 2,8 and caps 30. A Vnut 55 threadedly engages each of bolts 53 and is tightened against the .upper surface of the caps .thereby maintaining the clips and caps in position. The caps 3B are held down adjacent 0pposite ends thereof by tie .down bolts 43 welded to and upstanding `from the beams i2 and I5 and on which the respective nuts Y4I and 42 threadedly engage, nut 4I acting as La limit stop and nut 42 as a clamp for the cap. Other ways of securing caps 30 in .place may be provided.

Each of the beams I5 has a downwardly extendingv baille plate 44 secured to its vertical flange, for example, by welding, and extending from the flange to a ,distance slightly above the level of the segmented plate II directly below. In addition, an upwardly directed dam member or plate 45 extends upwardly of the vertical flange of beam I5 and its upper edge defines the overiiow level Aof liquid in the tray sections 2I so that the liquid will Voverflow the upper edge-of the dam member 45 to fall to the segmented plate Ii on the tray level directly below.

The lengths of the tray sections 2I utilized, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is such that they do not extend the complete distance between the opposite sides of the tower E0. The unlled sectioned spaces remaining at each side or" each level or trays are each filled by a segmented plate member welded at 5I to the inner wall of tower I0 and provided along its chord with .a Vdownwardly depending vertical flange 58a which with the side wall 22 or 23 of the tray section 2l next adjacent it defines a space 52 substantially half t-he width of the space 28 hereinbefore described,

The operation of the tower with the tray sections -2I at 'each level supported as described is as follows: Liquid L is directed to the segmented plate Il of the uppermost level, see for example Fig. 1, where itows under the lower edge of bafne 44, under the lower serrated edges of the cap 30 and distributes itself in the various channels of the tray sections 2i and flows rightward as seen in Fig. l, filling these channels to the over now level of the dam 45 at the extreme right whence it falls to the segmented plate Il on the next lower level of tray sections 2| where after flowing under the lower edge of baille M of the said next level it distributes itself in the channels of the trays on this level flowing leftwardly to overnow the dam 45 at the left. This zig-zag flow alternately from right to left at each succeeding level of tray section in the bubble tower continues until the lowest level is reached. At the same time while the oppositely directed or zig-zag now of liquid from level to level is occurring the gas to be bubbled through the liquid is admitted at the lowermost level entering the lowermost spaces 28 and moving upwardly through these spaces and the caps 3i) and under the serrated edges thereof at each level and bubbling through the liquids in the tray sections at each level until ultimately the gas has risen to the top of the bubble tower.

With the construction described a minimum number of joints have been utilized and the tray sections 2i of each row are readily removable individually for cleaning or for repair. It is a comparatively simple matter for removal purposes to unscrew the clamping nuts 42 and nuts 55 of the caps Bti and to remove the tray sections spanned by such caps. The weight of each tray section 2i is at a minimum because bolting or other fastening arrangements are replaced by the simple welds described. Each individual tray section 2i as well as each individual cap 3i! may be of such dimensions that its weight individually will not exceed what can be conveniently carried by one man. Moreover, since the tray sections and caps are pre-assembled the erection of a bubble tower designed to include such parts may be completed in a much shorter period of time than that which would be necessary in structures for like purposes utilizing bolting arrangements for the fastening of parts. The entire structure, because of the minimum number of fastenings, itself is lighter than comparative structures using bolted parts and can be made of lighter structural material.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described, variations in structural detail within the scope of the claims are possible and are contemplated. There is no intention therefore of limitation to the exact structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bubble tower, a bubble tray construction comprising individual tray sections assembled together to provide the tray construction,

each tray section having bottom and side walls defining troughs and laterally offset portions in the side walls adjacent its ends, the laterally oil set portions of the side walls of one tray section extending away from said side walls and toward the laterally offset portions of the laterally adjacent side wall of the next laterally adjacent tray section, each of the offset portions having a member projecting away therefrom in the same general direction as the side walls of said trays extend, said member being of a height substantially the same as the height of said side walls and having the adjacent surfaces of said members of adjacent sections abutting one another, said offset portions spacing adjoining side walls from each other to define vapor riser spaces between pairs of adjacent tray sections, the bottom of the tray sections being coextensive with said offset portions and said members and in fluid-tight relationship therewith, and securing means removably associated with said members and comprising a plate having a slot therein said slot having opposite walls engaging the surfaces of said members opposite said abutting surfaces, the distance between the opposite walls of the slot being such as to maintain the adjacent surfaces of said members in fluid-tight longitudinally slidable relationship and prevent lateral movement apart only of said adjacent members.

2. In a bubble tower, a bubble tray construction comprising individual tray sections assembled together to provide the tray construction, each tray section of a single sheet of nat metallic material and having bottom and side walls defining troughs and laterally offset portions in the side walls adjacent its ends, the laterally offset portions of the side walls of one tray section extending away from said side Walls and toward the laterally offset portions of the laterally adj acent side Wall of the next laterally adjacent tray section, each of the offset portions having a member projecting away therefrom in the same general direction as the side walls of said trays extend, said member being of a height substantially the same as the height of said side walls and having the adjacent flat surfaces of said members of adjacent sections abutting one another, said offset portions spacing adjoining side walls from each other to denne vapor riser spaces between pairs of adjacent tray sections, the bottorn of the tray sections being coeXtensive with said oifset portions and said members and in fluid-tight relationship therewith, and securing means removably associated with said members and comprising a plate having a slot therein said slot having opposite walls engaging the surfaces of said members opposite said abutting surfaces, the distance between the opposite walls of the slot being such as to maintain the adjacent nat surfaces of said members in fluid-tight longitudinally slidable relationship and prevent lateral movement apart only of said adjacent members.

3. In a bubble tower, a bubble tray construction comprising individual tray sections assembled together at different levels in the tower to provide bubble trays at each of said levels, each tray section having bottom and side walls defining troughs and laterally offset portions in the side walls adjacent its ends, the laterally offset portions of the side walls of one tray section extending away from said side walls and toward the laterally offset portions of the laterally adjacent side Wall of the next laterally adjacent tray section, each of the offset portions having a member projecting away therefrom in the same general direction as the side walls of said trays extend, said member being of a height substantially the same as the height of said side walls and having the adjacent surfaces of said members of adjacent sections abutting one another,

- said offset portions spacing adjoining side walls from each other to denne vapor riser spaces between pairs of adjacent tray sections, the bottom of the tray sections being coextensive with said offset portions and said members and in fluidtight relationship therewith, and securing means removably associated with said members and comprising a plate having a slot therein said slot having opposite walls engaging the surfaces of said members opposite said abutting surfaces, the distance between the opposite walls of the slot 7 being such as to maintain-.the adj-acent surfaces -of said members in huid-tight longitudinally .slidable relationship and prevent lateral movement .apart only of said adjacent members.

4. lThe bubble tower tray construction .of claim 3 wherein each tray section consists of a single sheet of metallic material with portions thereof folded to denne the bottom `side walls, the offset portions and said lmembers.

5. In a bubble tower, a bubble tray construc- .tion comprising individual `tray sections assembled together to provide the tray construction, each tray section having bottom and side walls `defining troughs and laterally offset portions in the side walls adjacent .its ends, the laterally ofiset portions of the side walls of one tray section extending away from said side walls and toward the laterally offset portions of the laterally adjacent side wall of the next laterally adjacent tray section, eachof the offset portions having a member projecting away there-from in the same vgeneral direction as the side wal-ls of said trays .eX- tend, said member being of a height substantially the same as the height of said side walls and having the adjacent surfaces of said members .of adjacent sections abutt-ing one another, said offset portions spacing adjoining side walls from each other to defi-ne vapor riser .spaces between pairs of adjacent tray sections, the bottom of the tray sections being ccextensive with said offset portions Iand said members and in fluid-tight relationship therewith, a cap supported over each vapor riser space, stiffening rneansffor each cap, :said stiftenin-g means also enga-ging the adjacent :side walls of the pair of tray sections defining each riser space to maintain side by side -assembl-ed relationship of the tray sections, and securing means removably associated with said members and comprising a plate having a slot therein said slot having opposite walls 'engaging the surfaces of said members opposite said abuttingsurfaces, the distance between the opposite walls -of the slot being such as to maintain the adjacent surfaces of said members kin kfluid-tight longitudinally slidable `relationship and prevent lateral move-- ment apart only of said adjacent members.

6. The bubble tray construction of claim 5 wherein the securing means is secured to the cap.

7. The .bubble tray construction Vof claim 5 wherein the stiileni-ng `means comprise transversely extending vertically slotted plates secured to the cap, the slots .of the plates in each cap receiving -the adjacent side walls of the adjacent pair of tray sections.

y8. The bubble tray construction of claim 5 wherein the securingmeans comprise transversely extending vertically slotted plates secured to the caps adjacent the opposite Vends thereof and the stiffening means comprise a plurality of said plates secured to the caps intermediate said adjacent ends.

9. In a bubble tower, a bubble tray construction comprising individual tray sections assembled together to provide the tray construction, each tray section having bottom and side walls defining troughs and laterally offset portions in the side walls adjacent its ends, the laterally offset portions of the side walls of one tray section extending away from said side walls and toward the laterally offset portions of the laterally adjacent side wall of the next laterally adjacent tray section, each of the .offset portions having a member projecting away therefrom in the same general idirection `as the side walls .of .said

trays extend, :said member `being .of a height substantia'lly the same as the height of said side walls .and .having the adjacent surfaces of said members of adjacent sections abutting one another, said offset portions spacing adjoining side Walls from Yeach other to denne vapor riser spaces between pairs of adjacent tray sections, the bottom -of the tray sections being coextensive with said offset portions and said members and in fluidtight relationship therewith, a cap supported over each vapor riser space, tying means for removably maintaining adjacent trays and the cap in position in 'relationship to `one another, and securing means removably associated with said members and Ycomprising -a plate .having a slot therein said slot having opposite walls engaging the surfaces of said member-s opposite said abutting surfaces, the distance between the opposite walls of the slot being such as to maintain the adjacent surfaces .of said members in duid-tight longitudinally slidable relationship and prevent lateral movement apart only of said adjacent members.

10. The bubble tray construction of claim -9 wherein the tying means comprises a clip extending transversely of said vapor riser space and `adapted to bear against the under surface of adj acent trays, a bolt .extending through said clip and said cap, said -bolt havinga head at one end thereof bearing against the clip and a threaded end opposite said one .end projecting through said cap, and a nut .on said threaded end adapted-to be tightened against said cap to maintain the clip in tightened relationship with said adjacent trays and maintain saidcap in position over each vapor riser space.

l1. In a bubble tower, a bubble tray construction comprising individual tray sections assembled together side by side at a plurality of levels in the tower to `provide the bubble tray construction at Veach level, means in the tower for supporting assembled tray sections at each level, each tray section having bottom and side walls defining troughs and laterally oilset portions in the side walls adjacent its ends, the laterally offset portions ci the side walls of one tray section extending Vaway from said side walls and toward the laterally offset portions of the laterally adjacent side wall of the .next laterally adjacent tray section, each of the oifset portions having a member projecting away therefrom in the same general direction as the side walls of said trays extend, said member being of a height substantially the same as the height of said side walls and having the adjacent surfaces of said members of adjacent sections abutting one another, said offset portions spacing adjoining side walls from each other to denne vapor riser spaces between pairs of adjacent tray sections, the bottom of the tray sections being coextensive with said offset portions and said members and in fluid-tight relationship therewith, securing means removably associated kwith said members and comprising a plate having a slot therein said slot having opposite walls engaging .the surfaces of said members opposite said abutting surfaces, the distance between the opposite walls of the slot being such as to maintain the adjacent surfaces of said members in kfluid-tight longitudinally slidable relationship and prevent lateral movement apart only of said `adjacent members, a dam at each level located adjacent all .correspondingly located outlet ends of the troughs of the tray sections in that level and a baille at each level adjacent all correspondingly located inlet ends of the troughs of the trayrsections in that level, each baille extending downwardly between a pair of levels and depending from the uppermost level of the pair, whereby liquid flows in all troughs at each level and successively downwardly from level to level.

12. The bubble tray construction of claim 11 including a cap positioned over each vapor riser space, tying means for removably maintaining adjacent trays and a cap in position in relationship to one another.

13. The bubble tray construction of claim 11 including a cap positioned over each vapor riser space, tying means for removably maintaining adjacent trays and a cap in position in relationship to one another, which tying means comprises a clip extending transversely of said vapor riser space and adapted to bear against the under surface of adjacent trays, a bolt extending through said clip and said cap, said bolt having a head at one end thereof bearing against the clip and a threaded end opposite said one end projecting through said cap, a nut on said threaded end adapted to be tightened against said cap to maintain the clip in tightened relationship with said adjacent trays and maintain said cap in position over each vapor riser space.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,077,645 Smith et al Apr. 20, 1937 2,084,726 Duey June 22, 1937 2,164,080 Peters June 27, 1939 2,338,928 Glitsch Jan. l1, 1944 2,491,209 Rapisardo et al Dec. 13, 1949 2,522,425 Baumann et al Sept. 12, 1950 

